Fire and Amulet

The atmosphere was still silent in Combination even though it's almost peak period, the time when everyone finished their jobs and started to head home. As King Henry was still bedridden, Prince Nathan took over the king's duties. Hopefully for the day only, assuming his brother returned by the end of the day with Princess Flyra. There was a sudden explosion in the city square. The few people who were walking the streets were thrown everywhere. Children were separated from their mothers as the next explosion occurred in the shops and markets. Those still standing started screaming and running in panic. Those who live close by made it back to their homes only to be caught in an explosion later on. One by one, buildings and streets burst into flames from the square all the way to the edge of the business district. Black birds flew down from the sky to random streets in the area and transformed into avengers. The moment the innocent citizens saw them, they got more panic. The avengers started chasing people and killing them. Slowly the business district was becoming a place of massacre. They only left the children untouched, unless they died from the fire or other means. All of them regrouped at the end of a junction leading up to the castle. By this time, the soldiers had reached the downtown area and started trying to control the situation. Hundreds of them were made out of the elite soldiers. But most of them cannot stop the person leading the avengers uphill towards the castle. And it isn't Marcala, or better known here as Widow. The person is a beautiful young lady in red. From her scarf to her boots hidden underneath her dress were all red. Her scarf was not worn very properly, a lot of her perfect brown hair was showing. Her neck was partially visible and a glowing red amulet was hanging from it. Every step she took nearer to the castle, the amulet emphasised its glow. The soldiers charged with their weapons and some with magic but all were countered and killed by this lady. And close by her side, acting like her bodyguard is Marcala. The attack was so overwhelming. Even before this group reached the castle, an explosion occurred there, at the dome of the main ballroom. The roof that was made, mostly out of glass, shattered and the pieces fell onto the grand marble floor. There were servants working inside and they were badly injured, but most of them died. A few more black birds flew in from the broken roof and transformed into avengers. Morgan and Alphaga were among them. Morgan brushed dust off his clothes dramatically.

'What was our task again? Kill them all?' Alphaga grinned wickedly.

'No idiot, we are to take the castle and hold it until the successor arrives' Morgan said responsibly.

'Which equally means kill anyone standing in our way!' Alphaga deduced excitedly.

'Spread out, make sure every corner is secured' Morgan commanded. The avengers moved in a hurry to perform their task. Just outside the ballroom, a fight started. Morgan and Alphaga walked to the doors and opened it. The sound of swords clashing and powers thrown became clear. Quite a number of the king's guards accompanied Prince Nathan as they defended the castle. Further down the hallway, near the castle's main entrance, were the SHAW masters and a few servants battling the avengers who came in through the front.

'This will be fun!' Alphaga grinned.

'No Alphaga, there's a much simpler way' Morgan said.

He held up his hand, a wave of forcefield exited and the whole fight froze. Everyone could not move. Only their eyes could.

'Listen to me, we will stop this fighting and you shall surrender the castle. If you don't, and when we succeed, the entire city will be destroyed. Your choice acting king' Morgan said, staring at Nathan.

'What are you doing Morgan?!' Alphaga scolded, feeling very annoyed because he is craving for a fight.

'Making everyone's life simpler, now shut up!' Morgan said. He moved his hand, palm facing the direction of the prince. Nathan could move again.

'Now answer me young prince'

'We shall surrender the castle' Nathan said.

'Clever boy' Morgan said and waved his hand, everyone could move again. 'Now, follow me'

The avengers took charge. They took the weapons away from the king's guards and group by group they locked them up in the dungeons.

Morgan, Alphaga, Nathan and a few of the avengers, who were holding on tight to Nathan so that he could not escape, made their way to the entrance hall. The royal master Jenny was still duelling with an avenger. Master William and Master Asher were there as well fighting another.

'Stop!' Morgan shouted. His voice exited his mouth like a wave of radiation, full of heat and pain. That caused everyone to instantly stop what they were doing.

'Your prince has surrendered. You should do the same. If you refuse, death awaits you' Morgan said.

'Nathan?' Jenny called in disbelief. Nathan felt very pressured. He was too occupied to pay attention. He cared for his family and the whole city. He made the decision to save them. Jenny refused to agree. She summoned a fireball in her hands.

'There's no way you're making me' Jenny said.

The fire in her hands behaved oddly all of a sudden. Before Jenny could do anything, the fire spread all over her, burning her inside and out as she screamed in pain.

'We don't have to' a lady's voice, cold and evil, spoke from behind. The lady in red was standing at the doors. Marcala was beside her grinning. The fire died out and a burnt black body fell onto the ground. Nathan stared at it with eyes wide open.

'Now who wants to join her?' the lady in red said. 'Who's the leader?'

'The king… is… is sick, successor, the person…' Morgan stuttered. Clearly this lady frightens him.

'I asked who's the leader Morgan, straight to the point!' she exclaimed. A wave of heat swept past them.

'Prince Nathan' Morgan shoved Nathan forward.

'Well, lock the others. I shall have a chat with this one' the successor said. She casted a spell. Red light shone the outline of Nathan as his legs left the floor. He floated around as he was magically dragged by the lady to follow her. The successor found a room of her liking, the king's room. King Henry was lying on the bed asleep.

'Morgan! Remove this old person from here and lock him up!' the successor called. Henry sat up immediately, awoken by the mad shouting. He stared at the successor in shock and confusion. Then he saw Nathan beside her, floating in red light, unable to move except for his eyes. Then Morgan walked in with a few of his soldiers and brought Henry away. As soon as they were out, the successor slammed the door shut with one magic force and threw Nathan onto the bed. She spread his arms and legs apart and created four long ropes securing each limb to one corner of the king-sized bed.

'Now handsome, since you acted in your father's place, you're going to tell me, where are the others I heard so much about? I know there's more of you than a useless sick old king and an amateur clueless young prince. Or I'll make you. And I am always fun when I make someone talk. I'll take away his dignity' the lady grinned naughtily and full of evil.

'You don't want to lose your virginity don't you?' the successor grinned. Nathan stared at her with eyes wide open in disbelief.

'That's unholy and inhuman! Never have I heard even an avenger is up for that!' Nathan snapped.

'Well you should be blushing, I'm praising you, you foolish prince. You think a person will want to do it with her enemy? You're crazy that is! Except if the enemy is a gorgeous man then I'll reconsider. Now answer me! Or I'll make you'

She started removing her scarf.

'Just kill me, you're insane!' Nathan shouted.

'Oh, I wouldn't waste such a good body so soon!'

She removed her scarf revealing a clear view of her perfect long wavy brown hair and her neck with the red amulet, glowing very brightly.

'Wait! They're finding my sister, Princess Flyra. She went to find our long lost siblings' Nathan revealed. The successor was a little surprised to hear the last part. She quickly regained herself.

'Lies! For twenty years no one came looking! Are you telling me suddenly after so long, everyone starts caring?!' she shouted.

'The king has been searching for the past twenty years. He never stopped' Nathan said, desperately hoping to be released from this torture. The successor walked to one side of the bed and bent down closer, placing her hands on it. One of Nathan's tied arms was in between her two hands.

'Do you know who I am?' she asked. Nathan thought for a while, he had only heard about Master Widow, also known as Marcala, Morgan and Alphaga. He shook his head.

'Well handsome, I am Erieka. Princess Erieka of Combination. And your father failed to find me for the past twenty years. Instead, he had new children to replace me' the successor said, revealing a big identity of herself. Nathan froze, aghast.

'The fact that you want to do this to me is just sick' Nathan muttered. 'Let me go'

'I will' Erieka said seductively, caressing his foot.

'Thanks for telling me where they are' Erieka winked.

'You're insane' Nathan said, rolling his eyes.

'Guards! Take him away!' Erieka shouted suddenly, startling Nathan. She swiped her hand briefly in the air. The ropes that tied Nathan to the bed vanish. The guards (Morgan's soldiers who were now under Erieka's command) came in and brought him to the dungeons. She rejoined Morgan in the meeting room with Alphaga and a few other avengers inside. They were arguing on which part of the city should be controlled by who. The moment Erieka entered, the room went silent. Everyone sat straight.

'First things first. I know where the missing people went' Erieka began.

'Successor, I would love to volunteer on this remarkable journey and bring back their heads for you' Alphaga said confidently.

'We're going to leave them be' Erieka said. The grin on Alphaga's face disappeared.

'Where's Marcala?'

'She said she's taking care of something' Morgan reported.

Marcala was strolling down the hallway right outside the royal chambers. And she stopped in the middle and waited. Suddenly, red mist swirled beside her and Erieka appeared in its place.

'What are you doing Marcala? Shouldn't you be in the meeting room?' Erieka said.

'Quiet' Marcala said. Erieka showed an expression like she was offended.

'Ouch' Erieka said. She looked back and forth at Marcala then at whatever she was staring at. Her eyes led her to the floor in front.

'Taking care of something is staring at the floor?' Erieka said dryly.

'Quiet'

Erieka rolled her eyes and disappeared as red mist swirled around, like it was devouring her. As if on cue, green sparks sparkled in front of Marcala at where she was staring at. A familiar white mouse appeared in its place, dazed and confused.

'Welcome back Mousy' Marcala said, smiling in satisfaction. She let her regain focus.

'You!' Mousy exclaimed all of a sudden. Marcala held up her hand. A translucent purplish-black magical shield wrapped all over Mousy except for her head. It prevented her from moving.

'Release me!' Mousy yelled.

'How long have you been gone?' Marcala asked.

'Release me!' Mousy yelled, struggling to break the magic.

'You can't fight dark magic with your common magic. So answer my question'

'Twenty years!' Mousy shouted angrily. Marcala's face lit up.

'So the other dimension exists?' Marcala asked, accelerating excitement in her tone.

'I've answered your question. Now release me!'

'You're making this hard on yourself Mousy. Enjoy the dungeons' Marcala snapped, feeling very irritated. She swiped her hand and Mousy disappeared in a cloud of blue mist. Marcala rejoined the meeting with the avengers.

'Attention, The Avenger enters' someone called out as everyone stopped discussing and sat straight.

'Yes yes carry on' Marcala dismissed, a little bit annoyed. 'You have a new leader now and that's the successor and not me'

'So, we were saying Marcala, I shall leave the business district to you' Erieka said. A map of the whole city was laid on the table.

'That's nice. Thank you' Marcala replied. 'The other districts?'

'I'll take the encampment district' Morgan said. 'The soldiers shall be disciplined with our ways'

Marcala nodded in satisfaction at every word. The encampment district was the only district drawn in red on the map. It lies just a few centimetres to the right of the royal grounds.

'Alphaga will take the merchants' district' Erieka said, pointing at an area below the business district.

'You'll be pleased with what I will do to everyone there' Alphaga grinned, his bunny ears stood tall with excitement.

'Pertum and his brothers will take the forest district' Erieka said.

'Which one? There are a lot, successor' one of the brothers asked.

'All of them. Four of you will sort it out yourselves. Don't interrupt me again' Erieka said, giving him a cold stare at the last part. 'Alright, and Lydia and Tora will take all of the village districts, one to five. I'm sure you'll handle the commoners well. Let them know and remember who's in charge now'

'Yes successor' Lydia replied obediently.

'I will be controlling the royal grounds. I am a princess here anyway' Erieka said. Everyone except Marcala smiled awkwardly at the last comment.

'Don't worry, successor, sounds better for me. I should get a new name' Erieka said happily. She paused as she thought for a while. Everyone except Marcala stared at her uncomfortably, like she was wasting their time from chasing their dreams.

'I know! Empress Erieka! Ooh, I love that! Call me, Empress Erieka!' Erieka exclaimed excitedly. 'Let everyone know. Empress Erieka is now the ruler of Combination'

'I'm sorry to interrupt your beautiful dream successor but don't forget our actual reason for overtaking the city' Marcala said.

'Yes, to avenge great mother Majuza of course! How could I forget? Other matters are just extras. But don't spoil my mood from having fun alright!' Erieka said.

'I hope you don't forget who was truly evil. Who was the oppressed. And which side are you on' Marcala reminded.

'Yes master' Erieka said obediently, her excitement died down.

'Now, who will follow you to take all the other cities? I don't want you to leave Barenge out of the list. They may not be associated with Combination anymore but they are the same, they are not on our side. Our mission is to avenge Majuza and get everyone on our side. Let everyone know, the Outlanders they hate so much are now in power' Marcala said.

'Yes Marcala. Lydia and I will lead the avengers and soldiers. First to Barenge. They're the nearest'

'And don't be a fool. Be cautious. Barenge has very strong defense. Their musketeers are trained to shoot to kill'

'Definitely. It'll be fun to see Jonathan's face when he watches us tear his army down' Erieka said.

'One more thing, use your amulet well. That thing has more power than what you learnt about it from me. Don't do something I did not teach you. You'll misuse it'

Erieka frowned, partly confused and partly annoyed that Marcala did not teach her everything about the amulet.

'And Erieka, you don't want to meet your father first?' Marcala asked. The question made the meeting room become more silent than before.

'Why would I want to meet the person that gave up looking for me?'

'He never gave up on you. Or your brother'

'Then he failed, for twenty years! Don't get me mad about this again!' Erieka shouted, tears appearing in her eyes. The room was not just silent anymore. It was heating up. 'I'm not weak like my brother. I know depression and shutting out won't get me anywhere! And you shouldn't even ask me that! How dare you! How dare you?! You took me away and now you want me to reunite with my father?! And what? I'm going to betray you and help my father now?'

'I know you won't Erieka. I know you understand why you're doing this. I know you understand which side is right'

'I am supposed to be against you. I finally saw my father and I'm rude to him' Erieka said, her anger was turning to sadness. Her tears rolled down her cheeks. 'I even killed his men'

'Get it together Erieka. I don't encourage the killing' Marcala said, glaring at Alphaga at the mention of the word killing. 'But we have to do whatever is necessary to spread our message. Even if it means to kill. But remember, remember what you have learnt all those twenty years. Majuza deserves to be heard. Her side of the story. And the Inlanders won't listen except when danger comes to them. And even after, they still won't. But we must do whatever it is to spread our story and avenge Majuza'

Erieka nodded obediently.

'Alright. I can meet my father anytime. I'll do it after Barenge' Erieka said, wiping her tears away. She left the room with Lydia following behind. The room went silent for a few more seconds.

'That was intense alright' Morgan said finally.

'And embarrassing as well' Alphaga said.

'At least we know for sure she won't betray us now' Marcala said.

'I still don't understand the power of the amulet' Alphaga said.

'I don't know everything about it. But I do know the amulet holds very great power. And as long as it is worn or used by the successor, the power is multiplied' Marcala said.